BE CALM AND VIGILANT… (1 Pet 5:8)

⏰Monday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time 1 (13 Feb 2017)

????Gen 4:1-15, 25; Ps 50:1 and 8, 16bc-17, 20-21 (R.v.14a); Mark 8:11-13

BE CALM AND VIGILANT… (1 Pet 5:8)

I wonder what Jesus would call our generation now if he called his own generation a wicked one simply because they were asking for a sign from him (cf. Luke 11:29). There is so much suffering in our world today and this has led many of into distrusting God and getting involved in religious prostitution – jumping from Church to another in the search of miracles.

I call that attitude of religious prostitution a lack of faith because it makes the miracle center, and not God, the central focus. The driving force is not controlled by the God who heals but the ‘man of God’ through whom God heals. That is a misplacement of priority and it is displeasing to God.

No matter how hard life pushes us, we must look up to God at all times in righteousness. Misfortune must not be an excuse for religious prostitution or even crime. Consider also the case of Cain and Abel.

God rejected the sacrifice of Cain for a reason that is not available to us. But at least his murder of his brother Abel based on that was condemned by God. Cain could have controlled his anger but he rather allowed his anger to control him (cf. Gen 4:7). And so he was punished by God.

My dear, this is a new working week. Challenges and different kinds of temptation are sure to come your way. But be sure of this, “Those who put their trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion that cannot be shaken but stands forever” (Ps 125:1). Don’t allow your faith in God to fall off and do not try to take to evil. With God by your side you shall be victorious. Amen.

I wish you a glorious and lovely week ahead. Peace be with you.